Epidemiological and clinical profile of pregnant women with anemia in a Hospital in El Salvador

Abstract

Introduction. Anemia in pregnant women is a serious and common public health problem, affecting 35.5 % worldwide. with repercussions for
maternal and fetal health. Objective. To determine the epidemiological and clinical profile of pregnant women with anemia in a public hospital in
El Salvador (2021-2023). Methodology. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted, based on clinical records from outpatient and
inpatient visits including 214 pregnant women diagnosed with anemia. The population was selected by simple random sampling.
Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using a structured instrument and processed with Excel® and PSPP 4.0. Results. A total of
80.3 % of the pregnant women presented mild to moderate anemia during the third trimester. The predominant age group was 20-29 years
(47.2%), with urban origins (55.1%), multiparity (53.7%), and normal weight (49.5%). The most frequent morphological type was normocytic
(71.5%). 65.9% were admitted for conditions such as urinary tract infection, threatened preterm labor, and preeclampsia. Of those who delivered,
61.6% had vaginal deliveries. Conclusion. The profile corresponds to young, urban, multiparous women, of normal weight with a predominance
of mild to moderate anemia in the third trimester, in the presence of infectious and obstetric morbidities.